To return to Sestini.  It may be imagined, that on such a subject as “L’Amor della Patria,” the ancient Roman worthies were not forgotten, and accordingly, a Brutus, a Scipio, a Fabius, or a Fabricius, figured in every line.  And surely on no occasion could they have been more appropriately introduced:—­in Rome, and when addressing Romans, who showed, by their enthusiastic applause, that though the spirit of their forefathers may be extinct, their memory is not.

The next subject, which formed a sort of pendant to the Cenci, was the “Parricide of Tullia.”  In this again his success was complete.  The stanza in which Tullia ordered her charioteer to “drive on,” was given with such effect as to electrify us:  and a sudden burst of approbation which caused a momentary interruption, evidently lent the poet fresh spirits and animation.

The evening concluded with a lively burlesque, entitled “Il Mercato d’Amore” which represented Love as setting up a shop to sell “la Mercanzia della Gioventu.”  The list of his stock in trade, though it could not boast of much originality, was given with admirable wit and vivacity.  In conclusion, Love being threatened with a bankruptcy, took shelter, as the poet assured us, in the bright eyes of the ladies present.  This farewell compliment was prettily turned, and intended, of course, to be general:  but it happened, luckily for Sestini, that just opposite to him, and fixed upon him at the moment, were two of the brightest eyes in the world.  Whether he owed any of his inspiration to their beams I know not; but the a-propos of the compliment was seized immediately, and loudly applauded by the gentlemen round us.

Sestini is a young man, apparently about five-and-twenty:  of a slight and delicate figure, and in his whole appearance, odd, wild, and picturesque.  He has the common foreign trick of running his fingers through his black bushy hair; and accordingly it stands on end in all directions.  A pair of immense whiskers, equally black and luxuriant, meet at the point of his chin, encircling a visage of most cadaverous hue, and features which might be termed positively ugly, were it not for the “vago spirito ardento” which shines out from his dark eyes, and the fire and intelligence which light up his whole countenance, till it almost kindles into beauty.  Though he afterwards conversed with apparent ease, and replied to the compliments of the company, he was evidently much exhausted by his exertions.  I should fear that their frequent repetition, and the effervescence of mind, and nervous excitement they cannot but occasion, must gradually wear out his delicate frame and feeble temperament, and that the career of this extraordinary genius will be short as it is brilliant.[U]

April 8.—­As Maupertuis said after his journey to Lapland—­for the universe I would not have missed the sights and scenes of yesterday; but, for the whole universe, I would not undergo such another day of fatigue, anxiety, and feverish excitement.